Enter any address in Dale County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flood recorded in Dale County, AL over the last 30 years, with 31 such occurrences. Tropical storms have also contributed, with 11 events recorded in the same period. Recent examples include flash flooding on March 18, 2022, when slow-moving cold fronts produced 4-7 inches of rain in a short time, and the peripheral effects of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, which brought tropical storm-force wind gusts.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that Zone A, typically areas of moderate flood hazard, has had the highest number of claims at 60, with an average payout of $29,466 and an average water depth of 2.7 feet. Zone X, representing areas of minimal flood hazard, has also seen significant claims (54) with an average payout of $20,906 and a water depth of 0.9 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED, which has had fewer claims (6), have experienced higher average payouts ($41,823) and deeper water (4.3 feet).
Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those in any flood zone without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) determination, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
21 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dale County, Alabama has recorded 50 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 31 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 33 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1975–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 22, 2024 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Michael | Hurricane | Oct 10, 2018 |
| Hurricane Nate | Hurricane | Oct 6, 2017 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 8, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 2014 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 18, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 16, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 16, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | May 28, 2018 | — |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 10, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 21, 2017 | 0.00K |
Tropical Storm — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches) at about 11:10 PM EDT on Thursday, September 26th, in Taylor County Florida just east of the Aucilla River. Helene quickly moved inland across Taylor and Madison Counties before moving into Lowndes County in South Central Georgia. The hurricane...
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2022
A cluster of slow moving thunderstorms produced some isolated flash flooding across southern portions of Dale county.
Flash Flood — Mar 18, 2022
A slow moving cold front brought showers and thunderstorms to the area on March 18th. Thunderstorms trained over the same areas in some instances, resulting in flash flooding due to heavy rain amounts of 4-7 inches falling in a short period of time. In addition, there were a couple of reports of downed trees and large hail.
Flash Flood — Aug 16, 2021
After moving across the Greater Antilles and weakening, the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred strengthened into a tropical storm once again in the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall near Cape San Blas with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph on August 16th. The storm brought flooding and strong winds to numerous areas of the tri-state region. Rainfall amounts were generally in the 3 to 9 inch rang...
Tropical Storm — Aug 16, 2021
After moving across the Greater Antilles and weakening, the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred strengthened into a tropical storm once again in the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall near Cape San Blas with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph on August 16th. The storm brought flooding and strong winds to numerous areas of the tri-state region. Rainfall amounts were generally in the 3 to 9 inch rang...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Dale County, Alabama:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Dale County, Alabama that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.